"Riana…?"

Just like the rest of the merfolk behind her, Lamia could not help but question her eyes.

It hadn't been long since she saw Riana head towards the golden cathedral to rescue Sana, but now, after that ear-shattering explosion, the turquoise-haired siren now came back as the rebirth of Nimue herself.

How… is this possible? Riana becoming Nimue…? What does this mean…? Lamia's mind raced with questions as the newly emerged deity looking down at her waited in silence.

She wasn't just looking down at Lamia, however. Nimue's slightly squinted eyes were carefully observing the reactions of every siren and triton looking up at her with complicated expressions.

Some of them looked relieved, while others worried. They questioned if their eyes were playing tricks on them, if they should truly trust their instinct now and believe in the one they have always believed in, even if it was a transformation of Riana. Darting their eyes between her and the statues below, they still could not make up their minds.

To the side, even Alviss and the Golden Garden Guild members stopped fighting and immersed themselves in the breathtaking figure hovering above the central square with a controlled ocean tide.

Without saying a word, Riana turned to the Nimue monument, and then to the golden statue depicting her fierce sister's last moments.

Rania… did you foresee this? Is this what you wanted me to do…? In that case…

Allowing herself a moment to catch her thoughts, the newly crowned lady of the lake and sea began to slowly move her limbs in the waters, each calm motion rapidly pulling or pushing the waters around her.

"?!"

Everyone watching was completely immersed by the scene unfolding in front of them, a scene of a magical and magnificent dance to tame the ocean.

"What is she doing…?" Bakari suddenly came to his senses. "Erik! This isn't good! We have to do something!"

"..." Erik, however, could not take his eyes off of the deity in front of him. As someone from the Royal Elding Clan, he had heard much of deities, but he had never met one in person. Naturally, the hardened warrior was lost in thought. Such an overwhelming presence… such exquisite beauty… this is the true majesty of the gods!

Similar to Erik, Alviss watched as a tightness welled up in his chest. In front of him was a real depiction of divinity, something the Saorsa Clan has always strived to meet face to face. Being in such a privileged and overwhelming position, Alviss' mind could not produce any thoughts or words to help him make sense of the situation. He simply stared at the stunning deity dancing with the magical waters overflowing in the air above.

Then suddenly, following Nimue's mystical movements, the multi-colored waters containing the different sea creatures bent and moved around, quickly forming a swirling cloud of water above the central square.

"!?"

Seeing that, many of the ones watching broke out of their trance and realized what had happened.

However, before they could say or do anything, translucent bubbles began to fall down from the ocean cloud. Although the outsiders could not recognize them…

"It can't be…"

"Are those…?"

"Pillows…?"

The merfolk murmured as they saw the very thing they put their heads on to sleep at night fall towards them like rain.

And among the siren, Lamia in particular realized what Riana's goal was.

Stolen story; please report.

After all, everyone in the Undine Clan should know the story behind those pillows.

Seeing relief on her face, Alviss had to make sure. "Hey lass! Are these dangerous?"

"Hmm? No, these are pillows." Lamia turned to face him.

"Pillows?!" The hardened dwarf blurted out.

"Yes, they are made by sea animals at the bottom of the sea known as "Bubble-Blowing Crabs". They hibernate in the winter under the ground within these bubbles, then release them to the sea surface come spring." Lamia explained, quickly noticing the gleam in Alviss' eyes. She realized his nature as a blacksmith and artisan was stirring, so she added on. "We call these Bubble Pillows, and collect them when they wash ashore for personal use or trade."

T' think such a thin' could exist naturally… Alviss thought inwardly, but then quickly realized. "Then why are they bein' released here…?"

POP!!

"?!"

Before he could receive an answer, the first of the slowly descending bubbles hit the ground and popped, alerting everyone.

However, it didn't stop there.

POP!!

POP!! POP!!

POP!! POP!! POP!!

The sound of bubbles popping grew louder and louder as it brought everyone else back into reality.

"What's going on?!"

"What is this?!"

POP!! POP!! POP!!

Murmurs began to challenge the sound of popping before an ethereal and mystical voice interrupted it all.

"People of the Undine Clan!"

"?!"

Hearing her call, everyone looked up to see Riana's looking down at them from the center of the ocean cloud. Just as she descended slightly to position herself below the waters, her stunning figure came into clear view once more, the light blue watery crown still rippling above her head.

POP!! POP!! POP!!

"It is time to wake up!" She demanded. "Just like the crabs at the bottom of the sea, you have been sleeping for far too long."

"..."

POP!! POP!!

The constant popping sound, coupled with her piercing gaze and formidable presence, the merfolk felt the corners of their eyes well up with tears.

The rest watching did not dare pick up their weapons or activate their Signs, their nerves were barely holding them in place from the sheer pressure.

"Put your grievances aside and get up! Wake up! It is time to take back your freedom!" The voice of authority began to shatter the wall of hesitation as it continued to push against it. "With the power of the sea, with the power of a new tide, pick up your courage and dignity and wake up!"

POP!! POP!! POP!!

POP!! POP!!

POP!!

"RAGHHH!!!"

Just as the last bubble descended and popped, Salil, the leader of the tritons who had previously remained silent and out of sight due to the guilt he was feeling, felt something break deep within him and let out a sudden battle cry.

And that battle cry served as the last hit to break everyone's else's hesitation.

"?!"

"Let's do this!" Salil shouted.

"Yeah!!"

"It's time to take back Sweet Scylla!" Lamia, gripping her spear tightly, wasted no time and charged forward first.

"Follow our leader!"

Not a second later, the dozens of merfolks that were previously fidgeting and waiting for a miracle, suddenly stood up, picked up a weapon and joined the charge.

"!!"

"W-what the hell is going on?!" Bakari took a few steps back before stumbling.

"Stand your ground!" Erik on the other hand, held his sword with both hands and grinned from ear to ear. "Let's dance!"

"RAGHHH!!"

Alviss watched them charge with awe, then looked up at the miracle that made it possible. Although he couldn't tell for sure, he thought he glimpsed a heartwarming smile on the deity's face that made his own heart skip a beat.

And then, a second later, the lady of the lake and sea danced in the waters again and quickly rode the waves away from the central square and toward the destroyed cathedral.

The dwarf realized where she was headed, and instead of dwelling on it, he twirled the legendary hammer in his hands, and then joined the charge too. "Let's do our part, Amphy!"

"..."

Behind the battle cries and the sound of metal crashing, Liv watched in silence, not sure what to do.

At this rate, they'll all die…

However, just when her eyes descended to her shadow again, she quickly felt herself falling into it. The corner of her mouth rose up slightly as relief overtook her.

Not long after that, the rest of the Golden Garden Guild members followed suit and sank into their shadows.

"What is this?! Stop this at once! I shall fight to the end!"

While Erik grumbled and shouted to keep fighting, Bakari and the rest were glad for the rescue.

Soon, the merfolk stood victorious from a quick battle. The new moonlight shone down at them as they praised and prayed to the Nimue monument and the golden statue.

Seeing the shine on their previous leader's frozen fierce face, they began to see it in a new light. It now gave them the will to fight, just as she had.

From this day forth, it would no longer be a symbol of fear, but one of perseverance and courage.

"Wragghhhhh!!

Although the two groups hadn't quite made up just yet, both the siren and the tritons celebrated together in the central square. Their battle cries quickly reached the corners of Sweet Scylla, and the ears of everyone who wasn't present.

It marked a new age for the Undine Clan. An age of freedom and prosperity as everyone would do their part.

They would no longer simply ride the wave as they had until now.

They would take control of it and forge their own path forward.

That was the purpose of the new tide they had been blessed with.

The tide that washed all the troubles away.

The very same tide that was now hovering far above the island, where two individuals were about to say their last goodbyes.

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